- Previously known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a very serious mental illness marked by extreme and potentially aggressive mood swings.
- Individuals who suffer from this disorder usually cycle back and forth between debilitating depressive episodes and intense mania, each of them lasting for weeks in one go.
- As severe as this disease sounds, it remains largely undiagnosed mainly due to a lack of awareness.
Previously known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a very serious mental illness marked by extreme and potentially aggressive mood swings. Individuals who suffer from this disorder usually cycle back and forth between debilitating depressive episodes and intense mania, each of them lasting for weeks in one go. As severe as this disease sounds, it remains largely undiagnosed mainly due to a lack of awareness. (source: NIMH, n.d.) (source: APA, n.d.)
Bipolar disorder is mostly genetic and pops up in the late teenage years to early adulthood. Up to 2.6 percent of the people in the United States or 5.7 million individuals currently suffer from bipolar disorder. (source: WHO, 2023) (source: NIH MedlinePlus, n.d.) (source: SAMHSA, n.d.)
If you have been suffering from intense mood swings that are severely affecting your daily living, it might be worth taking this self-test. This test can help you determine whether you should seek professional assistance regarding the symptoms. (source: FindTreatment.gov, n.d.) (source: NICE, 2023) (source: NHS, 2023)
Start the bipolar disorder self-assessment
[qsm quiz=4] (source: NCBI Bookshelf, 2024) (source: Psychiatry.org, n.d.)
FAQ
● Have a family history of bipolar disorder
● Have extreme highs and lows in mood that affect their quality of life
● Are becoming distant from their family members and friends because of unpredictable mood swings.
The items in this questionnaire will help you check whether you require additional screening and professional help for symptoms you have been experiencing. Simply put, it will help you get more insight into whether what you are going through has a medical explanation or is simply a phase of life.
